Q:1- The graph shows the pressure changes in the left side of the heart during one cardiac

cycle.
(BIOLOGY B 2018 June, paper 2, Q:5)

(a) (i) Calculate the heart rate. (1)

(ii) During which time period does blood leave the left ventricle? (1)

A 0.10s to 0.13s
B 0.10s to 0.37s
C 0.13s to 0.37s
D 0.13s to 0.43s

(iii) At which time does the valve between the atrium and the ventricle close? (1)
A 0.10s
B 0.13s
C 0.37s
D 0.43s

Q:2 Atherosclerosis is more likely to occur in arteries due to the higher blood pressure in these
blood vessels. (BIOLOGY A -2017 June, Paper 1, Q:6)

(a) Explain how the structure of an artery wall is adapted both to withstand and to maintain
high blood pressure. (3)
 (b) A person with very high blood pressure has an increased risk of developing atherosclerosis.
(i) Describe how very high blood pressure could result in atherosclerosis. (3)

(ii) Explain how atherosclerosis in one part of an artery could increase the likelihood of it developing in
another part of the same artery. (2)

Q:3 (Biology A, May 2018, Paper 1, Q:5)

 The pressure of the blood passing through the heart can vary.
 Graph A shows the changes in blood pressure in one side of the heart.
 Graph B shows the changes in blood pressure in the other side of the heart over the same time
period.
 (a) (i) Calculate the heart rate. (2)

(b) (i) Explain which side of the human heart is represented by graph B. (2)

(ii) In graph A, which blood vessel carries the blood leaving the heart? (1)

A aorta

B pulmonary artery

C pulmonary vein

D vena cava

(iii) In graph A, the blood pressure inside the ventricle changes between 0.0 and 0.45 seconds. Explain
how these changes in blood pressure occur in this part of the cardiac cycle. (4)
 (c) Explain how the structure of the walls of the blood vessels carrying blood away from the heart in
graph A and graph B are different. (3)

Q:4 (a) The heart of an adult giraffe can be 60cm long. Explain why the heart of a giraffe needs to be so
large. (2)

(2019 Unit 1 paper (new syllabus) , Q:7)

(b)The arteries near the heart of a giraffe are highly elastic.

(i) Draw a labelled diagram of an artery, as seen in section. (3)

(ii) Explain why the arteries near the heart of a giraffe are highly elastic. (2)

(c) Damage to the legs of the giraffe could result in excessive bleeding. To prevent excessive bleeding,
the capillaries near the surface of the skin are very narrow.

(i) Explain why very narrow capillaries prevent excessive bleeding. (2)

(ii) The red blood cells of the giraffe are about one third the size of human red blood cells, so that they
can pass through the very narrow capillaries.

The small size of the red blood cells ensures that the legs of the giraffe have a good supply of oxygen.
Explain why smaller red blood cells increase the supply of oxygen to the legs. (2)

Q:5 The graph shows the changes in the internal diameter of the aorta during two cardiac cycles

(2019 Jan unit 1 (new syllabus, Q:4, Q:8)

Explain the changes in the internal diameter of the aorta. (3)

Q:6- Graph 1 shows the oxygen dissociation curve of haemoglobin for a mouse and for an elephant

Graph 2 shows the mass-specific metabolic rate for a mouse and for an elephant. Mass-specific
metabolic rate is a measure of how much oxygen is needed for chemical reactions per gram of body
tissue.
Explain the difference in the oxygen dissociation curves of haemoglobin for a mouse and for an
elephant. Use the information in both graphs to support your answer. (6)